SWITZERLAND: The United Nations has strongly criticised what it described as ongoing and “unrelenting” killings of Palestinians in Gaza, even as a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas enters its sixth month.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement that Palestinians continue to face daily attacks, leaving civilians exposed despite the truce that began on October 10. Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire, while violence persists across the territory.
“The unrelenting pattern of killings reflects continuing disregard for Palestinian lives, enabled by sweeping impunity,” Turk said.
Gaza: Six months on from #ceasefire announcement, #Palestinians have no blueprint for survival. Whatever they do or don’t do, wherever they go or don’t go, there is no safety or protection afforded to them. – @volker_turk deplores #Israel‘s continuing disregard for Palestinian… pic.twitter.com/Fe2KJEM3eS
— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) April 10, 2026
According to figures from Gaza’s health ministry cited by the UN, at least 32 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the start of April. Turk said civilians have been killed or injured in various locations, including homes, shelters, streets, vehicles, a medical facility and a classroom over the past 10 days.
He also highlighted the killing of a contractor working for the World Health Organization earlier this week, as well as the death of an Al Jazeera journalist.
Restrictions on humanitarian aid
“The number of journalists and humanitarian personnel killed in Gaza is unprecedented, and further compounds civilian harm as it makes reporting on the situation and responding to its humanitarian implications life-threatening,” he said.
Turk warned that movement within Gaza has become extremely dangerous, with reports of Palestinians being killed while carrying out everyday activities. He added that suffering has worsened due to restrictions on humanitarian aid, destruction of infrastructure and rising violence involving armed groups.
“Palestinians have no blueprint for survival: whatever they do or don’t do, wherever they go or don’t go, there is no safety or protection afforded to them. It is hard to square this with a ceasefire,” he said.
He called on the international community to take concrete steps to address the crisis, ensure accountability and support recovery efforts.
